I have been wanting to get a good battle rifle for a while now, but I cannot decide if I should get an Ar-15 or an Ar-10. I like that the ar-15 has cheaper ammo, more ammo capacity, and offers 22lr conversion kits but I really like the .308 win cartrige and am currently reloading for it. Which one should I get? I am also thinking about the Colt 901 modular carbine.

I have owned 4 "AR-10s" including an Armolite. One was a Bushmaster, one a DPMS and one was a K.A.
None were reliable. I wish they were, but saddly they were not.
I could NEVER get through 4 magazines with ANY of them without a jam of some sort with any ammo, and I did try many types of ammo.

I have an AR-15 in 6.8 SPC that has never jammed one time in the 9 years I have owned it. It has had about 4500 rounds through it so far.

So if you want more power than is available with the 5.56 and you want the rifle to WORK I’d have to recommend the AR-15 in 6.8 SPC. I also recommend a reloading set-up because the ammo is going to be hard to get in comparison to 308 or 223. But that's not a problem if you buy a few thousand cases at the time you get the rifle.

I've had no problems with my Rock River LAR-8 carbine. It has about 600rds through it. I've used a mixture of surplus, factory hunting ammo and some of my own handloads. Accuracy is 2-3" with surplus and 1-1.5" with factory and handloads at 100 yards. Recoil was a little more than I expected but a muzzle break solved that one issue.

I like the ar15 platform. for me, 308 is too expensive to have a blasting machine. I already have a couple bolt guns in the medium and long cartridges so I like having a smaller rifle in a semi auto.. saying this though, if I were to be able to afford. an ar10 in the future, I would stick with a well known manufacture. the biggest problam with the ar10 platform is that there is really no reliable parts interchangability between manufacturers. some things do cross over from one to another, but its not mch. Im hopeing to one day be able to become a manufature of the ar15 and ar 10's myself, God willing...

I think we should first distinguish that battle and assault rifles are two different classes of power. All things being equal between the AR10 and AR15, you will need to decide on what you necessarily want the rifle for. You can fire .223 all day with reckless abandon, but the .308 is expensive. If you are currently reloading for the cartridge, though, I would probably choose the AR10. Really, it's totally personal preference. I hear the AR10 is one of the most supreme semi automatic .308s ever manufactured and for that reason alone I am interested in one (I currently own a "re-tooled" MAS 49/56 and only wish I had an M1A). You also have an option in a Mini 14 for .223. Don't buy the hype. They're decent rifles.

I think it is an evolutionary design from their hunting BAR (which is not related to the automatic AR of WW 1 & 2).

EDIT: I just watched a video on field stripping the WW2 BAR; it is vastly simpler than the FNAR. As far as 308 platforms for one firefight, I'd like an FNAR, but for a week in a combat zone, I'd take the AR10 (or FAL).

I was in the same predicament as you at one point and went with an AR build for a few reasons.

I started my search with the FNAR. Great rifle, sub moa accuracy from the box and piston operated. People will say it's a PITA to take apart but with anything, once you do it, you'll get used to it and it won't be an issue. I'm sure it is difficult until you figure out the tricks.

The only reason I did not purchase the FNAR was simply because of the magazine cost. You are looking at 40 dollars or more per magazine. I like to have at least 10 magazines loaded up for the go. I'm not willing to pay 400 dollars for magazines.

The AR 10 is your next option. If you're getting a battle rifle you're looking for a quality rifle that won't fail. I've read too many mixed reviews about manufacturer pre built AR10 rifles that I just didn't feel comfortable buying one. I looked into build costs and it was looking too expensive to get a quality build for my budget.

If I had the budget I'd get an M1A.

I ended up building a sub MOA AR 15 that I'm more than happy with. It's my go to rifle for a few reasons. Widely used caliber and cheap(er) ammo. Replacement parts are readily available and magazines are cheap cheap cheap. I wanted to keep it as light as possible since it's my go to rifle.

Quality 5.56 surplus ammo is .30 a round, 7.62 is .50 a round. I think that's cheap ammo for rifles that cost over 1K. I've shot over 3k rounds of surplus 5.56, 7.62 and '06 this summer. Ammo cost is part of the hobby.

A good AR15 is about $800 and a good 7.62 AR is about $1500. You can go cheaper with the 7.62 AR but it may need tweaking.

The only malfunction with my AR10 has been from riding the charging handle, otherwise over 1K with out any problems over the past three years.

I'm a hoarder, I have over 100 rifles, mostly mil-surp, the 7.62 AR is one of the nicest rifles you well ever handle. It's a AR15 on steroids. They have a large after market parts support now and more than a half dozen manufacturers to choose from.

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Does anyone know about the Colt 901 modular carbine. With a conversion kit you can switch the .308 with a mil spec .223 upper. Also have any of you tried the .22lr conversion kits?

IMHO the 901 looked better on paper than in person. Swapping between calibers is much more than just pinning a different upper on the lower. Upper adapter, mag adapter, change the buffer and spring. The you have a overweight AR15. Two dedicated rifles makes more sense to me.

Ar10 all the way especially if you already reload for it. Heck even if you dont surplus can be had at good prices if you shop around and hit the gunshows. I admit I am biased in that I just dont care for 223 for anything but varmints/predator control so if your looking for a "battle rifle" 223 aint it.

With an AR, you are probably going to hang a few things like scope, light,
and other things

When you take the AR10 platform, you will very quickly get a 10-14lb weapon

The AR15 platorm starts significantly lighter, if your walking around the extra 2-4 pounds start to wear on you.

The 6.8

Hits 80% of the 308
Hits much harder than 223
Is an excellent hunting round for deer sized animals (I bought mine for pigs)
Still have the ability to use a 22 upper, or 223,
Uses the lighter 270 projectiles

A huge positive to me is the ability to use parts from any manufacturer on AR15s. The 308 AR is not that interchangeable, as all the manufacturers seem to have differnt standards.

There are several manufacturers coming out with cheaper ammo for the 6.8 (Tula, Federal)

The downside on 6.8, there isnt any on the shelves, its ususally an internet buy, for now.

The 300BLK seems like a good option as well, especially if you want to run subsonic and use a can.

The 6.8 out-performs the 300BLK, at all distances, so thats why I went 6.8

As a reloader, there are a huge amount of loading options on the 6.8. The Hornady SST 120g is a thumper

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